How to change a rear cassette?

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I ride a Cannondale Prophet and am still new to biking. I'm not too technically savvy, which is to say I can get things to work - it just takes a while. For example, I took off my rear wheel last night and it took about 30 minutes for me to get the SOB back on again; but it did get back on...

Anyway, I ordered a new rear cassette and instead of lugging it to the bike store, I figured this was something I could do myself. First off, can I? If not, there's a shop nearby and I'm sure they'll do it for me. If it's something that I can do, is it hard and are there instructions that could walk me through it?

Thanks for the help (in advance)!

step-by-step instructions to remove bicycyle cassette
http://www.ehow.com/how_14171_replace-bikes-cassette.html

go to google.com type in your question. for example ""how to remove bicycle rearcassette" and click on Google search

pls also see Basic Skills for Cyclists on Ken Kifer site http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/index.htm

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Looks a bit too hard for me, I'll just take it to my local bike store - I'd rather a professional do it than me (it'd probably fall off or something if I did it...)

Change a cassette is actually quite easy. I purchased the Complete Guide to Maintenance and Repair to show me how to do the repairs. The cassette change does require a special tool.

--Jeff

It's easy if you have the tools and putting it back together is easier.

Hello, Newbie here

I have been doing more and more of my own repairs and maintenance lately and my next project is to replace the cassette. It looks easy enough and it looks all I will need is the sproket remover. My local repair shop charged over $150 to replace the last one, I see at Performance Bike that I can buy a new one anywhere from $25 to just over $100

My question is, What Size Cassette do I Need? OR does it really matter?


It's easy if you have the tools and putting it back together is easier.

My question is, What Size Cassette do I Need? OR does it really matter?
Unless you are desiring a change, you should replace it with one that is geared exactly like your current cassette. For today's mountain bikes, same total number of gears (8 or 9), and gears that have the same number of teeth (typically only denoted with the small X large gears, ie 11X28, 11X30, 11X32, 11X34).

Ohhhh, OK, so the numbers indicate the number of teeth

heck thats so simple, even I should be able to have figured it out

Thanks, I am gonna order the new cassette and wrench tonight

Unless you are desiring a change, you should replace it with one that is geared exactly like your current cassette. For today's mountain bikes, same total number of gears (8 or 9), and gears that have the same number of teeth (typically only denoted with the small X large gears, ie 11X28, 11X30, 11X32, 11X34).

Hello, Newbie here

I have been doing more and more of my own repairs and maintenance lately and my next project is to replace the cassette. It looks easy enough and it looks all I will need is the sproket remover. My local repair shop charged over $150 to replace the last one, I see at Performance Bike that I can buy a new one anywhere from $25 to just over $100

My question is, What Size Cassette do I Need? OR does it really matter?

I bought a cheap tool since I don't need a shop quality tool, How often do you need to remove your cassette :rolleyes: and it has worked in both my road and MTB for quite a few times, since about 10 years ago.

I found one at Performance Bikes web site for only $10


I bought a cheap tool since I don't need a shop quality tool, How often do you need to remove your cassette :rolleyes: and it has worked in both my road and MTB for quite a few times, since about 10 years ago.

I ride a Cannondale Prophet and am still new to biking. I'm not too technically savvy, which is to say I can get things to work - it just takes a while. For example, I took off my rear wheel last night and it took about 30 minutes for me to get the SOB back on again; but it did get back on...

Anyway, I ordered a new rear cassette and instead of lugging it to the bike store, I figured this was something I could do myself. First off, can I? If not, there's a shop nearby and I'm sure they'll do it for me. If it's something that I can do, is it hard and are there instructions that could walk me through it?

Thanks for the help (in advance)!
I am sorry if i am a little late but you will need the right tool which looks like a long steel handel with a short bit of chain attached to do it,

Another great resource I have found for doing any work on your MTB is www.parktool.com (http://www.parktool.com). Click on "Repair Help" and you are there. They have great instructions on doing most repairs, upgrades, and maintenance to your bike. Ofcourse, they do recommend the appropriate Park Tool to use, but it's a great FREE resource.

I just upgraded to a new XT cassette 3 months ago from a cheaper SRAM and it was easy as pie.

Hope that helps.

Another great resource I have found for doing any work on your MTB is www.parktool.com (http://www.parktool.com). Click on "Repair Help" and you are there. They have great instructions on doing most repairs, upgrades, and maintenance to your bike. Ofcourse, they do recommend the appropriate Park Tool to use, but it's a great FREE resource.

I just upgraded to a new XT cassette 3 months ago from a cheaper SRAM and it was easy as pie.

Hope that helps.

OK, last week I ordered a set of tools, stand, along with a new cassette and spokes from Performance Bike online. (also joined their "Team Performance" buyers group)

then sat down over the holiday weekend to attempt to replace the cassette, and all I gotta say is....
MAN WAS THAT EASY!

I can't believe I have been paying the shop to do this all this time, Heck from now on I'm doing ALL my own repairs

I'm not a bike mechanic but general maintenance is fairly easy and could be done by any rider with the tools and time.
The difficult part for me is truing or assembling new wheels. I've done it and they were fine but next time I'll buy them already assembled or pay for the assembly.